Voice developing device



April 21, 1964 a. CAMERINO 3,129,627

VOICE DEVELOPING DEVICE Filed Feb. 12, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 t 3INVENTOR. 'QE" BEYRNEST CAMERfNO mm AW M Atty.

April 21, 1964 E. CAMERINO 3,129,627

VOIICE. DEVELOPING DEVICE Filed Feb. 12. 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 52 I 7 5657 51 b 48 61 I I 3 62 I I2 13 54 2 4 A I. l l 11 9 1 55 f IN VEN TOR.

E RNE-ST CAMER l NO United States Patent Oflfice 3,129,627 Patented Apr.21, 1964 3,129,627 VOICE DEVELOPING DEVICE Ernest Camerino, 1144 N.Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Filed Feb. 12, 1962, Ser. No.172,5 8 Claims. (Cl. 84466) This invention relates to voice developingdevices. The general object of the invention is to provide practical andeflicient means for not only making the individual aware of the qualityand pitch of his voice, but also for improving its strength and tonalqualities.

When the voice is caused to flutter so as to produce variations in thepitch thereof, and particularly when this is done while the individualruns through the notes of the scale at ascending and descending pitches,the individual becomes apprised of the sound and strength of his voice.He finds that if it is weak, it can be made louder by increasing thevolume; if it is poor in quality, it can be made pleasant by varying thepitch and tone. Thus, he becomes acutely aware of the nature of hisvoice and of the fact that it can be improved with effort. Theindividual also discovers this routine of fluttering the voice whilerunning through the notes of the scale to be a pleasant and beneficialexercise for developing the muscles or vocal cords, and the quality andpitch of his voice.

' Accordingly, a further object of this invention is to providepractical means for causing the voice to flutter as the individualspeaks, sings, or emits sounds.

The invention is particularly concerned with a motor powered devicedesigned to be used in association with the throat of a person so as tocause the voice to flutter and vary in pitch to provide a tremulouseffect.

The device is of special advantage in further developing the voice ofspeakers and singers, and in making those who thought they had a poorvoice, aware of the potential of their voice and of the possibility ofimproving it.

The invention further lies in the particular construction and generalarrangement of its component parts as well as in their cooperativeassociation with one another to produce the results intended herein.

' The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention willappear more fully hereinafter from a consideration of the detaileddescription which follows, taken together with the accompanying drawingswherein an embodiment of the invention is illustrated. It is to beexpressly understood, however, that the drawings are for purposes ofillustration and description, and are not to be construed as definingthe limits of the invention.

a In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a device embodying the invention with thetop cover removed;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1, thoseparts externally of the housing being shown in full;

FIG. 3 is a detail of the association of the cam member with the camshaft, looking rearwardly in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view of the device associated with the throat of a personfor use;

FIG. 5 is a modified form of the means for associating the device withthe throat of a person;

FIG. 6 is a section taken on line 66 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional detail of the association of the blockwith the channel member.

. In the accompanying drawings there is disclosed a neckband 1 uponwhich a motor powered throat actuating device 2 is mounted. The neckbandis detachably engageable about the neck 3 of a person. The neckband isso designed that a broad tab 5 offset from the lower edge of themid-area of the band extends forwardly at the front of the neck.

. The device 2 is mounted upon this tab. It includes a shell or casing6. This casing houses electrically powered mechanism adapted to cause anactuator 7 to intermittently move back and forth relative to the throatof the person using the device. The casing is secured, as by a wingscrew 8, to the upper end of a depending leg or support 9. The latter ispivoted or hinged at its lower end Ill to a plate It fixed to thesurface of the tab 5. This hinged relation of the casing 6 to the tab 5enables the casing to be selectively tilted rearwardly, as indicated bythe arrow A in FIG. 4-, toward the throat, or forwardly away from thethroat.

The casing 6 is also adjustably movable up or down relative to thesupporting leg 9, so as to obtain a desired elevated position of theactuator member relative to the throat. To this end, a guide block 12fixed to the central area of the outer face of the rear wall 13 of thecasing, has vertical sliding movement in an inner channel 14 of the leg9. The shank of the screw 8 passes freely through an elongated verticalslot 15 in the leg 9 to threadedly engage the guide block 12. Anenlarged head of the screw serves to lock the adjusted position of thecasing relative to the leg member when the screw is tightened.

The electrically powered mechanism controlling the action of theactuator member 7 includes a small motor 16 adapted to be powered by anysuitable source, such as batteries 16a.

This motor acts through a gear train hereinafter described to rotate acam shaft 17, so as to cause a cam member 18 carried by the latter torotate and intermittently exert a rearwardly directed camming actionagainst pivotally supported bar 19 carrying the actuator 7. The actuatorbar 19 is pivoted at its bottom end 21 to a swing plate 22. The latteris rotatively supported by means of a pair of offset ears 233 thereonupon the cam shaft 17.

The gear train includes a driving gear 24 carried by the motor driveshaft 25, which gear drives a train of idler gears 26, 27, 28, and 29.Gears 26 and 27 are carried by idler shaft 341; gears 28 and 29 arecarried by idler shaft 32. Shafts 3t) and 32 are journalled between apair of stationary plates 33 of the casing. The idler gear 29 drivinglyengages a gear 34- fixed to the cam shaft R7. The latter is rotativelysupported between a pair of ears 35 or supports of the casing.

The cam member is is a plate of triangular form (FIGS. 2 and 3) mountedaxially on the cam shaft for rotation with the latter. Each corner ofthe cam member is rounded to define a cam nose 36. Each edge of the cammember extending from one cam nose to the other, defines a fiat or lowarea 37. The cam noses are engageable with the bar 19 when the actuator7 is engaged with the throat of a person and is pressed forwardly by thethroat so as to position the bar 19 in the position of the broken line P(FIG. 2). When the bar 19 is so held, then as the cam member is rotatedby the cam shaft, the cam noses 36 successively pass through a slot 38in the plate 22 to cam the actuator bar 19 rearwardly to press theactuator 7 against the throat of the person using the device. consequentupon each camrning action, the actuator 7 and its supporting bar 19 ispivoted forwardly by a rebounding or relaxing reaction of the throat toreposition the bar 19 opposite to a low area 37 for a repeated cammingaction.

The swing plate 22 is biased slightly clockwise from normal (FIG. 2) bymeans of a spring 39. This spring sleeves a slide rod extension 41 of anarcuate upper end portion 42 of the swing plate. The spring is limitedat its ends between a shoulder of the arcuate portion 42 and the wall ofa U-support 43 of the casing. The rod 4i is slidable through a hole inthe U-support 43 as the swing plate is caused to turn relative to thecam shaft 17. A knob or stop 44 on the end of the rod 41 cooperates withthe U-support to limit clockwise movement of the swing plate to theposition shown in FIG. 2. The swing plate 22 and the associated spring39 serve to cushion the actuator 7 against forceful movement in acounterclockwise direction, as might happen should the throat reboundforcefully following a camming action of the cam member 18.

The actuator supporting bar 19 has a normal position when the actuator 7is away from the throat, as in FIG. 2, against the rear edge of slot 46in cover 47 of the casing. The actuator bar 19 has a forward position,indicated by the broken line P, wherein it abuts the upper end of theswing plate 22 in close opposed relation to a low area 37 of the cammember. The actuator bar terminates at its upper end in a narrow neck 45which projects freely through a longitudinal slot 46 in the cover 47 ofthe casing. A headpiece 48 formed atop this neck has a hole 49 thereinin which a rearwardly extending stem portion 51 of the actuator 7 isslidably received. A lockscrew 52 serves to lock the adjusted positionof the stem 51 in the headpiece. The actuator 7 is arcuate in formwhereby it provides a pair of opposed broad faces 53. The curvature ofthe actuator conforms substantially to the front area of the throatabout the larynx, enabling the actuator to comfortably engage this area.

Releasable means is provided to hold the casing in a rearwardly tiltedposition wherein the actuator is held pressed against the throat, as inFIG. 4, in which position the actuator bar 19 is substantially in thebroken line P position of FIG. 2. This means includes a cord or string54 anchored at its free ends 55 to opposite areas of the neckband l. Thebelly of the string is engageable with a hook 56 of a carriage unit 57mounted upon the cover 47 of the casing. The hook is carried by a nut 58which is adapted to be adjustably moved along a carriage screw The screwis journalled at its ends in a channel block 61 fixed to the surface ofthe cover. The screw is manually operable by an external knob 62 wherebythe nut 58 is caused to travel in a channel of the block 61 in onedirection or the other accordingly as the screw is rotated. The carriageunit enables a comfortable adjustment of the actuator relative to thethroat. A forward movement of the hook 56 by the nut toward the throatcauses the string to relax, allowing the casing and the actuator to tiltby force of gravity away from the throat. Movement of the nut and hookaway from the throat causes the string to tighten and draw the casingand actuator toward the throat. It is also clear that if the belly ofthe string is slipped free of the hook, the casing and actuator willpivot clear of the throat.

In use the device 2 is engaged by means of the hook 56 with the string54 after the neckband I has been comfortably secured about the neck. Thecasing is then virtically adjusted relative to the leg member so as toposition the actuator '7 over or near the larynx, commonly called theAdams apple. The casing is then manually tilted toward the throat so asto cause the actuator bar 19 to pivot to its broken line P position. Thecarriage unit 57 hook is then adjusted as required to tighten the stringsufficiently to hold the device 2 in this condition. If too much take-upis required with respect to the string to tighten it, an adjustment maybe made by moving the stem 51 of the actuator relative to the headpiece,as needed.

Upon making the foregoing adjustments the apparatus is ready foroperation. Operation of the motor 16 causes the cam member 18 to rotate.As it does so, the cam noses 36 successively cam the actuator 7 againstthe throat of the person, pressing the larynx or Adams apple slightlyinward. Following each camming action a fiat area 37 of the cam memberis presented opposite the actuator bar 19, whereupon the throat relaxesor rebounds and returns the actuator bar to its broken line position Pfor a further camming action. As this operation is repeated the larynxis caused to repeatedly move slightly back and forth. This causesfluttering or variations in the pitch of the voice if one sings orspeaks while the carnming operation is going on, thus causing atremulous elfect. Continued exercises of this nature while at the sametime varying the pitch and volume of the voice tends to develop thevocal cords, the strength and tonal qualities of the voice. Thetremulous effect produced makes the person fully aware of the nature ofhis voice, its possibilities, and the extent of any improvement takingplace.

When it is desired to release the actuator 7 clear of the throat, theoperator simply slips the string 54 free of the book 56, whereupon thedevice 2 under force of gravity pivots away from the throat.

In FIGS. 5 and 6 a modified form of the apparatus is shown with respectto the means for supporting the device 2 relative to the throat. In thisform the carriage unit shown at 57 in FIG. 4, as well as the string 54and the neckband 1 are omitted. In place of the neckband a tab 62 isused having an extension defining a handle 63.

he tab is notched as at 64 in its rear Wall so as to fit about the frontarea of the throat, and it is adapted to be manually held against thethroat by means of the handle. The leg member 65 supporting the casing 6to the tab 62 is the same as that shown in FIG. 4, except that the lowerend is not hinged to the tab 62 but is rigid therewith.

While an embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and describedin detail, it is to be expressly understood that the invention is notlimited thereto. Various changes can be made in the design andarrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention; and it is my intent, therefore, to claim the inventionnot only as shown and described but also in all such forms andmodifications as may reasonably be construed to fall within the spiritof the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A device to be used in association with the throat of a person forimparting to the voice a tremulous effect, comprising a casing, a motorsupported therein, a rotatable shaft, a gear train drivingly connectingthe shaft with the motor, an upstanding bar member disposed rearwardlyof the shaft having a hinged support at its bottom end in the casing, anarcuate member mounted atop the bar externally of the casingpositionable about the front area of the throat, a cam carried by theshaft arranged for intermittent camming action against the bar as theshaft rotates, the bar having a rearward cammed position at the high endof the cam and having a returned forward position at the low end of thecam, and means for supporting the device relative to the throat in thevicinity of the larynx in such manner that the arcuate member pressesagainst the larynx in the cammed position of the bar and the bar is heldin its returned position in a relaxed condition of the larynx relativeto the arcuate member.

2. In a device to be used in association with the throat of a person foreffecting a tremulous action of the voice including a casing, a motormounted in the casing, a cam shaft carrying a cam member, and a geartrain drivingly connecting the cam shaft with the motor, an upright barpivotally supported at its lower end in the casing having a forwardposition adjacent a low area of the cam from which position it iscammable by a high area of the cam to a rear position, a throat engagingmember carried atop the bar externally of the casing, and means forsupporting the casing relative to the throat of a person in such mannerthat the throat engaging member lightly presses against the throat in thvicinity of the larynx, whereby the bar is yieldably pressed by thethroat to its forward position. 7

3. In a device according to claim 2, wherein the cam member is oftriangular form in which each corner defines a high area and each edgebetween the corners defines a low area.

4. In a device according to claim 2, wherein a tab is provided uponwhich the casing is supported, and means is provided for holding the tababout the neck.

5. In a device according to claim 4, wherein a leg depending from thecasing supports the latter to the tab so as to provide a predeterminedelevation of the throat engaging member relative to the tab.

6. In a device according to claim 5, wherein the leg has a channellongitudinally thereof, and a blocked memher fixed to the casing hasadjustable sliding movement in the channel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,953,436 Sauders Apr. 3, 1934

1. A DEVICE TO BE USED IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE THROAT OF A PERSON FORIMPARTING TO THE VOICE A TREMULOUS EFFECT, COMPRISING A CASING, A MOTORSUPPORTED THEREIN, A ROTATABLE SHAFT, A GEAR TRAIN DRIVINGLY CONNECTINGTHE SHAFT WITH THE MOTOR, AN UPSTANDING BAR MEMBER DISPOSED REARWARDLYOF THE SHAFT HAVING A HINGED SUPPORT AT ITS BOTTOM END IN THE CASING, ANARCUATE MEMBER MOUNTED ATOP THE BAR EXTERNALLY OF THE CASINGPOSITIONABLE ABOUT THE FRONT AREA OF THE THROAT, A CAM CARRIED BY THESHAFT ARRANGED FOR INTERMITTENT CAMMING ACTION AGAINST THE BAR AS THESHAFT ROTATES, THE BAR HAVING A REARWARD CAMMED POSITION AT THE HIGH ENDOF THE CAM AND HAVING A RETURNED FORWARD POSITION AT THE LOW END OF THECAM, AND MEANS FOR SUPPORTING THE DEVICE RELATIVE TO THE THROAT IN THEVICINITY OF THE LARYNX IN SUCH MANNER THAT THE ARCUATE MEMBER PRESSESAGAINST THE LARYNX IN THE CAMMED POSITION OF THE